Applefritter - Unix and Mac OS X

HOW TO: Change the Dock's Finder icon in Leopard (10.5)

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:20:14 -0800

[size=150][b]How To:[/b] Change the dock's Fnder icon in [u]Leopard[/u].[/size] Firstly, you are going to need to open up [i]/System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/Resources[/i] The easiest way is to type '[i]cd /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/Resources[/i]' in terminal, and hit return. Then type '[i]open .[/i]' You will need to edit the [b]finder.png[/b] file, using whatever image editing program you prefer. Best way to go is to make a copy of the original, and stash it somewhere, then edit [b]finder.png[/b] If you want to make a new one from scratch, remember it must be a .png file, and it must be the same size and DPI as the original [b]finder.png[/b]. Ok, now that you have got that done, you need to delete the dock's icon cache file, or your new icon will not show up. Using spotlight (with the flags set thusly: System FIles Include), find and delete the file called [b]com.apple.dock.iconcache[/b]. Now, log out and back in again, reboot, [b][u]or[/u][/b] use the terminal to kill the dock. You should now have a shiny new finder icon! [img]http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/7968/picture1as5.png[/img]

Mac software 101: Where's all those files?

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:18:55 -0800

Having been an exclusively Mac user most of my life, and having only recently (during the past few years) started dabbling in PC's and Windows, one of the most obvious differences between Mac OS and Windows is the amount of files in a Windows application folder. I'm curious why there's such a big difference? First of all, Mac applications are rarely in their own folders but exist mostly as single icons in the applications folder. A Windows application will be in the Programs Folder and each application has a folder containing, not only the application icon, but dozens, or more usually, hundreds of other files in the folder as well--to the point where it is often difficult to find the application icon amongst all its numerous compadres. Installation software, as well, is heavily crowded with files for Windows app installations. I'm talking about XP and earlier. I've not had a single experience with Vista yet, so don't know if things have changed with the new Windows. How much of this difference in apparent files amounts is simply in the user interface and how much is it in the architecture of the two OS's? Do Mac applications have a similar amount but they are either hidden or scattered about the system and library? If you took all the preferences and extensions and control panels, etc., associated with a Mac app, would they add up to a similar amount of files as in a Windows app folder--thereby, meaning the difference is mostly just in the user interface? It seems to me there's a more fundamental difference, and I also wonder if a Windows app with all those files at hand makes Windows software more accessible to the user, whether or not he/she's got a clue to what they are all about? Somehow, I'm expecting the term "global" to be part of the explanation. Thanks ahead for any time spent for my education here. I'd expect there are a few others as ignorant as myself, as well, who could fill a classroom.

Stumped about sudden Network Problem in OS X Leopard

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:18:42 -0800

Hi all, Hoping someone can help me figure out what I'm missing: PROBLEM/SYMPTOMS: - Web sites slow to load (iMac C2D, 2.8GHz, 4GB RAM, all browsers) - Cable internet connection speed very fast - i.e. downloads are 300kb-1Mbps, very speedy - Speed test sites (testmy.net, Speakeasy, Speedtest.net) confirm very fast download speeds - BUT - same speed test sites totally fail when doing upload tests - the test page hangs without doing the upload SOLUTIONS I'VE TRIED: - Turning IPv6 off in Network Prefs - Turning Firewall off in Security Prefs - Turning "reject anonymous pings" off in my router (Linksys WRT54G) - Uninstalling Parallels Desktop (it seemed to add virtual network ports that were always on; they're now gone) - Rebooting router - Rebooting cable modem - Rebooting iMac - Using OpenDNS for DNS resolution - Not using OpenDNS I'm not a system or network admin, but I'm pretty knowledgeable about this stuff, and I'm completely stumped. In the past, slow DNS resolution has been because of Comcast's servers, and switching to OpenDNS has immediately solved it. But not this time - it just seems to take too long to initiate downloading from any domain. I suspect that the sudden inability to do upload speed tests is related to my problem, but I don't know what the actual problem could be. Any ideas? M

Mac OS X Security prompt in Safari

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:19:28 -0700

I keep getting a security prompt for a password while using Safari. The window says that "Safari wants to unlock the keychain 'login'." As best as I can tell , this keychain does not exist. I have already reset Safari. How do I make it stops? TIA --DDTM

Locked folder won't unlock

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:03:31 -0700

I dragged this folder from a digital camera flash SD media card to my desktop and it copied as a locked folder: [img]http://www.applefritter.com/images/lockedfolder-23510_640x480.jpg[/img] I dragged it because it had jpegs I wanted to put on my computer. I open it and it's empty. I go to "Get Info" and the locked box is checked but grayed-out so I can't uncheck it. Ownership and Permissions says I can read and write it. Get info gets stuck on calculating its size. It has no creation date. It is not content indexed and will not index. I cannot put it in the trash because it's locked. Pressing option doesn't allow me to put it in the trash. How do I get rid of this thing?

Mysterious User files

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:05:36 -0700

I was cleaning up my hard drive today and found these mysterious files: [img]http://www.applefritter.com/images/mysterioususerfiles-23442_640x480.jpg[/img] The three files, Us, Use, and User are empty. I did not create them. The Users arrow file is my regular OS X Users file, but the icon is the same icon for my Microsoft Mouse Preference Pane. I did not update my Microsoft Mouse software recently. Anyone have a clue how these happened? This kind of stuff always raises the malware paranoia index in me.

Restore Discs for iMac G4 ?

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:50:52 -0700

Does anyone know where I can get the restore discs for an 800 MHz iMac G4 ? I want to add one to my collection and I want all of the original software and so fourth on it.

Mac OS 10.6 Aloha PowerPC

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:14:08 -0700

So is this the final death knell for the PowerPC?: [url]http://www.apple.com/macosx/snowleopard/[/url] 16TB of RAM? That ship's leaving the harbor to a whole different world. Aloha 'Oe!

Weird USB mouse behaviour.

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:22:21 -0700

My mini has been acting up lately. First was losing the FW port until the mini sat unplugged for over 24 hours, now it's back up, but I lose the mouse when I log out. I noticed it last night, so I let the mini timeout and go to sleep on it's own. Today it came up with the mouse intact. This evening I woke it up and had no mouse. I logged in vie the keyboard and navigated to the console and terminal with keyboard shortcuts. Nothing useful shows up there. I did discover that it responds to button presses (the menus pop up and disappear) and that if I plug in my daughters novelty horseshoe mini USB mouse it has the same reactions, so it's something in the mini and not the mice. I've tried sleeping the mini via the power button and waking it and it hasn't brought back mouse motion. I've got my iBook for basic uses until I solve this, though I am making this post from the mini, all keyboard. ;)

Leopard Retail on Beige G3 (G4 upgraded), B&W G3 (G4 upgraded), G4 Yikes Success!!

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 06:07:10 -0700

After my previous couple of posts (on Lowendmac) about nearly getting Leopard to load on a Beige G3 / Blue & White G3 I can confirm that I have had success with it booting fully to the graphical user interface, after quite a few tries of different techniques. There are some functions which currently need attention, like Firewire and power management, but this is related to the way I've got it working: 1. G3 B&W upgraded to run a 600Mhz G4 CPU 2. Used the B&W to installed 10.4 and upgrade to 10.4.11. 3. Used a Digital Audio G4 to install Leopard as an upgrade over existing Tiger installation 4. Tried to boot this on B&W G4. Got previous error or crash with IOGraphicsFamily 5. Noted that AppleCuda and AppleLynx (firewire) kexts didn't load corrctly during boot either/ 6. Extracted all kernel extensions from 10.5 WWDC 2006 edition, using Digital Audio - as this booted on G3 and G4 systems, and has all the missing kernel extensions not included in the Lopeard final release. 7. Deleted 'newer versions' of the kexts 'IOGraphicsFamily.kext', 'AppleCuda.kext', 'IOFirewireFamily.kext' and installed the relevant ones from WWDC 2006. 8. Boot was then successful. I attach a screenshot of the about this Mac and an Apple System Profiler report as proof. Currently, AppleCuda.kext doesn't load and this results in a shutdown powering down everything, but not turning off the fans. IOFirewiewFamily.kext doesn't load so firewire port don't yet work. I've also flashed a Nvidia Geforce PCI 5200 card which support CoreImage as hardware accelerated, not too slowly, Next I'll try on my Beige G3 to see what happens! Hope someone else finds this information useful. ******** Just an update: have now also managed to get it to boot on a G4 upgraded Beige G3 with Radeon 9200. 1. Booted into Mac OS 9, which was installed on same partition as 10.5 2. Used Xpostfacto to install startup item and bootx, to enable booting on oldworld macs. 3. Disabled onboard video using setenv pci-probe-list fffbffff in Open Firmware (Apple-Alt-O-F at startup) 4. Restarted, and bootup occured as per the B&W G3 ()G4 Upgraded) to full GUI. Now going to experiment with updates! James.

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Need help connecting to Mac from work PC

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:58:31 -0700

I need to connect to a Mac at home from a work PC running Windows XP. The home mac is running OS 10.4. I have been googling all afternoon and playing around with the Sharing tab and Apple Remote Desktop in that tab as well as "Connect to Server" in the finder. Any of you guys experts on this or know any websites that have step by step. All I have managed to do is get more confused. Thanks.

Final Cut Pro-DVD studio Pro install problems.

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:33:36 -0700

Hi every body! My dad dose video editing as a side job and he owns a PMac g5 with final Cut Studio 2. DVD studio was totally screwed up so he uninstalled it. When he reinstalled it he dose not know where it went to. So now he's stuck. He was in the middle of a project that needs to get on to DVD and iDVD dose not look very professional. Its no where to be found on the HD but he's done it twice and lost sapce so he knows its on there. Is it hidden? I did a spotlight search and came up with a folder but no go. So if any one could give me some tips that would be great!!!

I NEED HELP!!!!

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:14:18 -0700

SO I FORGOT MY PASSWORD TO GET INTO THE ADMINISTRATION... AND BECAUSE IM USED TO HAVING A PC I THREW AWAY THE CDS TO RESTORE... IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO REFRESH IT TO A NEW PASSWORD WITHOUT MY OLD OR IS THERE ANYWHERE I CAN BUY THE CDS.... IM LOST SO ANY HELP WITH BE APPRECIATED... THANKS

Snow Leopard

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:17:43 -0700

I... think this went in the right forum. Apologies if not. So, Steve says "hey the new OS X is Snow Leopard. Preview to follow..." Do we get to find out if any of the other speculation about it is true, like it possibly being free/low-cost, a stabilization of Leopard, et cetera? It's my understanding that the devs are under NDA, so they won't be able to say a thing about what they see. If they are, I can totally respect that, but it would sure be nice to get some, y'know Mac-related information during a WWDC. Anyone that can confirm? Add additional info? (Don't add info that you shouldn't, thats not what I'm trying to start here.) -- Macinjosh

Asian characters in Word or Apple Text

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:51:27 -0700

Hey, A kid asked me how to write Asian characters in Word or Text type (the Apple appt hat used to be teach text then SimpleText) on get G3 ice book. Running some variant of osx. Anybody got any ideas? Thanks, William www.williamahearn.com PS. I've tried selecting the typeface in fonts and formats but no go.